Curse of Strahd - S6 Prelude (56) - The Blue Water Conspiracy

 

Returned to Vallaki, our heroes hold a council of war with their allies.

Our dramatis personae:

Ser Adon de Rouge of House Starbright (a half-orc Paladin, from a knightly background, with two human retainers and a priest), played by Paul (dr_mitch). Lawful Good. Married to Ser Alys.

Kelwarin (Kel) (a half-elf Sorceror flush with the powers of wild magic, an outlander), played by Graham (First Age). Chaotic Good.

Gaddock Teeg (a halfling wizard and former prizefighter), played by Alex (Doggetay), Neutral Good

Ser Alys de Adon-Rouge of House Starbright (a half-orc Fighter with a soldier background, currently the leader of the town militia of Daggerford), played by Tom (Guvnor). Lawful Neutral. Imagine a slightly greener take on Grace Jones... Married to Ser Adon. 

also featuring: 

Ireena Kolyana (a human warrior, daughter of the Burgomaster of Barovia, Twice-Bitten reincarnation of Strahd's unrequited love, Tatyana) - upgraded as a sidekick.

and:

Muriel Vinshaw (a member of the Keepers of the Feather, travelling with the party to repay them for rescuing her),  a wereraven upgraded to a sidekick (yes, I know that breaks rules as she started at CR2 but frankly I don't care)!

All characters & sidekicks are level 9. 

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22th December

Notes from the meeting of the Blue Water Conspiracy, taken by Danika Martikov.

Conspirators present.

• Our heroes.
• The Martikovs
• Jeny and Laurą
• Kasimir
• Dimitri Martikov
• Muriel Vinshaw
• Ireena Kolyana
• Others present: Rictavio and Ez (uninvited but at their usual table).

Objective

• Your objective is to retrieve the Sunsword which you think is located in Sergei's crypt. You don't want to seek to kill Strahd on this visit. Ireena, Muriel and the other allies will stay at Vallaki, ready to defend it if needed. Kel does not want Ireena at Castle Ravenloft.

Enemies

• The enemies you have identified are Strahd, his brides Anastrasya, Ludmilla, Valenta? & Escher.
• There was also another vampire called Sasha. 
• Plus Rahadin.
• Plus god knows what else that's in the crypts.

Potential addition allies.

• Rictavio, Circus Ringmaster, has some powerful magics, seems to know a lot about the threats of Barovia, has a hideout by a lake to the north-west. Seems to be an ally. Staying at the Blue Water Inn in a private room. Has a close friendship with Ez D'Avenir. (present)
• Jeny Greenteeth - wise older woman who runs a herbalism and has something powerful about her, under the surface. Gaddock's occasional lover. Now in her late 30s/40s since the restoration of the Fanes. One of the Three.
• The Abbot- A fallen Deva entrapped by Strahd who has found new resolution following discussions with Ser Adon.
• Davian Martikov - head of the Martikov family.  A little estranged from his son Urwin. Now reconciled and ready to help against Strahd in return for the help the party have given. (present)
• Esmeralda D’Avenir (Ez) - friend of Rictavio -  significant player?  Ez D'Avenir to Rudolph Van Richten, describing how she had found a source on information about their common enemy and that she planned to obtain it and come and find him to help slay the Enemy. I think 'Ez' could be a useful ally, though not sure what she brings? (present)
• The Mage - came from beyond the Mists and gathered people to attack Castle Ravenloft to slay Strahd. Missing, presumed dead. Possibly called Mordenkainen. (!!)
• Ismark Kolyanovich - Might be an ally for the infiltration or another helper at the summoning and slaying? Give him the Bloodspear to make him yet more powerful?
• Ireena - Kel doesn't want her anywhere near Ravenloft (aww, isn't that sweet?). Of course, tactically she is precious to Strahd and the enemies would be careful not to harm her which could be useful. (present)
• Charm the Roc and all fly on its back. More whimsical than practical.
• The Vistani at the encampment won't move openly against Strahd.

Weapons

• You plan to spend the next two days resting and working with Father Lucian to fill the font with holy water using the town's silver reserves as part of the spell.
• You plan to bottle the holy water in wine bottles and leave some at the town and take some with you. Effectively, you are making 40 vials of holy water, scrying with it, then bottling it. Two each per member of the squad, which is 24. Leaving 16 with the militia for now.
• You talked about making spell scrolls but dismissed this.
• Alys will advise the priest to keep making holy water, and the militia to setup a stake production line. 
• Alys also will ask the armourer to start playing arrows and bolts with more silver.

The area around the Castle

Strategms

• You plan to leave around 2AM in the morning on the 24th and head along the Old Svalich Road on horses accompanied by 6 volunteers from the militia.
• You will leave the road and skirt south around the mountain to the south out of sight from the castle, stopping and camping at the bluff in the lands below the castle. 
• The party will go in on foot and make their way to the base of the pillar and somehow enter via the windows in the side of the cliff some 900ft above. You think these enter the crypts. 
• The windows are hidden from the rest of the castle by the projecting overlook another 100 feet higher. 
• You expect to have breakfast around 8am as you arrive and then enter the castle, leaving by 3pm while the sun is still up. 
• The militia have been instructed to leave if it gets to 3pm, but to leave the horses for you.

A side elevation, west to east.

The topography of Castle Ravenloft

Gaining entry to the castle.

• The windows you saw are 900ft up from the valley below the mountain. The overlook is perhaps just over another 100ft.
• Dimension Door is 500ft range. You could get into the Castle Courtyard with this but not the catacombs.
• You could fly - Kasimir would be able to help with this - or climb. Ser Alys is confident she can climb. Gaddock can also cast it but it will limit the higher level spells he can cast. Flying preferred, let's prepare!

End of meeting.